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Tar Sands oil ain’t Jed Clampett’s bubblin’ crude
Investigative ArticleThree years after the July 25, 2010 Kalamazoo River oil spill, this tragedy holds important warning signs for communities and municipal and state governments. Oil pipelines now crisscross the entire country, running through Midwestern states that are not oil producers but have become oil transit zones. Many of them already carry Canadian Tar Sands oil.
Library hosts Song of the Lakes
Upcoming EventThe Glen Lake Library will host a performance by Song of the Lakes on Thursday, July 25, at 7 p.m. The concert is based on the classic children’s book Paddle to the Sea, written by Holling C. Holling, originally published in 1941. This concert will feature original music performed by the band, along with narration by Norm Wheeler. Children and adults are invited to this free performance, which will be held at the Empire Township Hall. For more information, call the library at (231) 326-5361, or check its website at Glenlakelibrary.net.
Stathis Stamatakis’ pastries are Greek to me
Food/Organic Living, Local PersonalityGlen Arbor’s weekly summer farmers markets are the quintessential way to enjoy an early morning stroll. But what about the people that spend hours preparing, gathering the freshest ingredients, mixing and tasting, and toiling in the kitchen to make delicious products to sell during those brief morning hours? Meet Stathis Stamatakis, who hails from Crete, and knows a thing or two about decadent Greek pastries.
Ripple effect at Sleeping Bear Gallery
Local Personality, Upcoming EventOil Painter Jeff Ripple will demonstrate his craft at Empire’s Sleeping Bear Gallery on Saturday, July 27, from 1-3 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Ripple may be “a Florida boy at heart,” but he also embraces the idyllic rolling hills and gentle landscape that characterizes Leelanau County. Even though Ripple is colorblind, he has “always been into art.”
Manitou Music Festival features Nora Jane Struthers, Drew Nelson, Peter Paul & Mary Remembered and Full Set
Upcoming EventThe Glen Arbor Art Association’s Manitou Music Festival, which is celebrating its 23rd season of jazz, classical, blues, folk, country, celtic, bluegrass and world music on the Leelanau Peninsula, hosts a wealth of summer concerts in the coming weeks. On Sunday, July 28 at 8 p.m. the bluegrass/country singer Nora Jane Struthers will perform with her quartet outdoors at Studio Stage, located at Lake Street Studios in Glen Arbor; on Wednesday, July 31 at 8 p.m. the Michigan born country/folk singer-songwriter Drew Nelson will perform with his Highway 2 Band; on Sunday, Aug. 4 at 8 p.m. the Folk band Peter, Paul & Mary Remembered will perform at Studio Stage, and on Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 8 p.m. the Celtic band Full Set will perform at Studio Stage. The rain location for all concerts is the Glen Arbor Town Hall, with the exception of Full Set, whose rain location is the Empire Town Hall.)
Center Gallery hosts Joe Stewart, Carol Spaulding
Upcoming EventOhio artist Joe Stewart’s love of Leelanau goes public in an exhibition of new work, “Painting the Leelanau Peninsula.” This show opens with a reception on July 26 at 6 p.m. at Center Gallery, 6023 S. Lake St. in Glen Arbor. Maple City artist Carol Spaulding’s “Garden Palette” will color Center Gallery at Lake Street Studios next. The exhibition of floral still lifes opens Aug. 2 with a 6 p.m. reception.
Art Association features Lynn Uhlmann’s wooded landscapes
Upcoming EventThe Glen Arbor Art Association will exhibit wooded landscapes by Lynn Uhlmann of Shippensburg, Penn., and part-time resident of Leelanau County. The show is July 26-28 at the Art Association, 6031 S. Lake St., Glen Arbor, with an opening reception on Friday from 6-8 p.m.
Frankfort CSA Arts and Crafts Fair displays whimsical art
Upcoming EventThe Congregational Summer Assembly (CSA) will host its 35th annual Arts and Crafts Fair on Wednesday, July 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Assembly ball field on Crystal Lake. The fair will feature more than 100 artists from all over Michigan and beyond. Fair goers will find: jewelry of all kinds, from adornment made with old silverware to those made with semi-precious stones; decorative art, from pottery wall hangings to oil paintings, watercolors and fine photography of local landscapes; wooden objects of art – vases, bowls, birdhouses; children’s delights — American Girl doll clothes, books and handmade toddler outfits; handcrafted herbal soaps, paper goods, baskets and furniture; wearable art and more.
Empire celebrates Anchor Days
Historical Feature, Upcoming EventThirty-six years ago this month, Doug Manning and Michelle Stryker discovered an anchor in 18 feet of water while canoeing off the coast of Empire. Ever since then, the village has celebrated Anchor Days on the third Saturday of July. The quirky impetus for the party fits this unique town. After all, Empire is best known for dressing up and honoring the asparagus stalk in May.
Grocer’s Daughter: “a sweet little business” grows under new owners
Business Feature, Food/Organic Living, Local PersonalityAs Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate celebrates 10 years in Leelanau County, it also fetes the new ownership of the business under Jody Dotson and D.c. Hayden of Traverse City, who acquired it from Mimi Wheeler on April 1. The ingredients of a successful business in Leelanau County would seem to include: a unique, high-quality product, community-minded entrepreneurial spirit, the ability to identify trends, a strong network of employees, like-minded business owners and customers, and a pinch of good luck.